Hydraulically-actuated well packers



March 12, 1963 C. C. BROWN HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATED WELL PACKERS FiledJune 50, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 (lee/'0 C Bra wn INVENTOR.

(Mme/SIM ATTORNE YJ March 12, 1963 c. c. BROWN HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATEDWELL PACKERS- 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1958 C/ c era C. .Broy'vnINVENTOR.

by, wgn% A 7' 7' O/P/VE VJ March 12, 1963 c. c. BROWN 3,080,923

HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATED WELL PACKERS Filed June so, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR ,g' ZdaM A I A TTO/F/VE VJ C/ce/"a C. Brow/7 United StatesPatent O 3,080,923 HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATED WELL PACKERS Cicero C. Brown,Houston, Tex., assignor to Brown Oil Tools, inc, Houston, Tex., acorporation of Texas Filed June 30, 195% Ser. No. 745,550 13 Claims.(Cl. 166-420) This invention relates to new and useful improvements inhydraulically-actuated well packers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well packer whichmay be set by hydraulic pressure and released by manipulation of thetubing string whereby the packer is particularly adaptable for use withwell completion apparatus such as is illustrated in my copendingapplication Serial No. 728,967 filed April 16, 1958.

An important object is to provide an improved well packer which may belowered on a well tubing string to its desired location within the wellbore after which the tubing may be landed in final position in the wellhead equipment prior to the setting of the packer whereby circulation offluid around the unset packer for washing the formation or for otherpurposes may be effectively carried out with the well under fullcontrol; movement of the packer'to set position being accomplished bybydraulic pressure which applies an endwise force to the sealing elementof the packer to deform the same into sealing engagement with the wallof the well bore.

Another object is to provide a hydraulically-actuated well packer whichis mounted upon a well tubing string and which is so constructed thatthe elastic sealing element of the packer does not sealingly engage theexterior of the tubing when the element is in sealing position, wherebyfrictional resistance to the longitudinal movement of the tubing stringwith respect to the packer assembly when the sealing element is insealing position is minimized, which assures that said tubing may bereadily rotated or otherwise moved longitudinally of the packer assemblyeven though the packer is in fully set position.

A further object is to provide a well packer of the character describedwherein the tubing string is connected with the well packer assembly byan improved type of connection which may be released to allowlongitudinal movement of the tubing to effect a release or unsetting ofthe packer and which may thereafter function to reconnect the tubing tothe packer assembly, whereby said assembly can be removed from the wellbore by means of said tubing string.

A particular object is to provide a well packerwhich is carried by atubing string in which the connection between the packer assembly andthe tubing includes a jarring device whereby, it necessary, the tubingmay be utilized to jar upwardly on the packer assembly to assurepositive release and removal of the packer by the tubing string.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafterdescribed, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of thefollowing specification and by reference to the accompanying drawingsforming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown,and where- FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a well packer, constructed inaccordance with the invention, and illustrating the' packer beinglowered within a well casing which is shown in section;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation of thewell packer assembly with the packer in unset postiou;

FIGURE 2a is a continuation of FIGURE 2 showing the extreme lowerportion of the assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of aportion of the well packer assembly, illustrating the gripping slipsmoved to set position with the packing element still in non-sealingposition;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 with the packer in fully setposition;

FIGURE 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing thereconnection between the tubing string and packer assembly after thepacker has been released and is to be removed from the bore;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail view of one type of back check valvearrangement which may be employed in the packer assembly; and

FIGURE 7 is an isometric view of the special coupling which connects thetubing string to the well packer assembly.

In the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a well bore which traverses aproducing formation F and which has the usual well casing 11 disposedtherein. The casing is provided with the usual perforations 11a whichare located opposite the producing formation whereby flow of well fluidsfrom the formation may enter the lower end of the casing. The improvedwell packer which is constructed in accordance with the presentinvention-is generally indicated at A in FIGURE 1 and, as will beexplained, the packer is adapted to be lowered into proper positionwithin the well casing by means of the usual tubing string 12. When thepacker is in set position within the well casing, it functions to sealoff the annular space between the tubing and the casing whereby the flowof well fluids is directed upwardly through the well tubing to thesurface of the well.

The packer A includes an elastic packing element B and an anchoringmechanism generally indicated at C and said anchoring mechanism or meansis adapted to be engaged with the wall of the well casing to lock thepacker therein; the packing element B is adapted to be deformed intosealing contact with the wall of the well casing to effect a closure orsealing of the annular space. 'Both the anchoring mechanism and thepacking element, as will be hereinafter described, arearranged to bemoved into set position by the application of a hydraulic fluid pressurewhich fluid pressure is conducted downwardly to the packer assemblythrough the well tubing 12.

The well packer assembly A is lowered into position on the tubing string12 and during such lowering the packing element B and the anchoringmeans C are in released or unset position. Upon the packer assembly Areaching its final position within the well casing 11 it is possible tocirculate fluid downwardly through the tubing and into the lower end ofthe casing to wash the face of v the producing formation F. Suchcirculating-fluid returns upwardly through the annular space between thetubing and the casing since the packer is in its unset position at thistime. When it is desired to set the packer, a hydraulic pressure isbuilt up Within the tubing string 12 and, as will be explained, resultsin setting the anchoring means C and the packing element B. Thereafterthe V packer assembly functions'as a production packer and production ofwell fluids may be upwardly through the tubing string 12.

The packer is released by a manipulation and longitudinal movement ofthe tubing string 12 and thereafter, if desired, the tubing string maybe reconnected with the packer assembly and the string employed toretrieve the packer from the well bore. As will be explained in detail,the tubing string includes a special coupling arrangement between thestring 12 and the packer assembly A whereby, it necessary, an upwardjarring motion may be applied to the packer assembly to assure apositive release when removal of the packer is desired.

The details of the structure of the well packer A and its associationwith the tubing string 12 is clearly illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 211.As shown in these figures, the tubing string 12 extends downwardlythrough the packer assembly A and is provided with an enlargement orshoulder 13 at a point just above the packer assembly. A specialcoupling, generally indicated at D in FIGURE 2, is employed to connectthe tubing tring 12 with said assembly.

The packer assembly proper includes a central tubular mandrel 14 whichhas its upper end connected by threads to an annular head member 15. Theshoulder 13 on the well tubing string 12 is arranged to engage anannular seat 16 formed at the upper end of the bore of the head 15. Anelastic packing element or sleeve 17 surrounds the mandrel 14 below theenlarged head and this element may be constructed of a suitable elasticmaterial such as rubber, rubber compound or the like.

Also surrounding the mandrel 14 and positioned below the packing elementor sleeve 17 is a slip expander cone 18. The upper portion of the bore19 of the cone has a sliding fit around the mandrel 14 but the lowerportion of this bore, as indicated at 19a, is slightly enlarged toprovide an annular shoulder 20. This shoulder is engageable with asupport ring 21 which is secured to the exterior surface of the mandrel14. With this arrangement it will be seen that the cone 18 is supportedby means of the shoulder upon the support ring 21, and the cone in turnsupports the packing element 17. The packing element is confined againstupward displacement on the mandrel 14- by engagement of its upper endwith the under side of the enlarged head 15 which is secured to theupper end of the mandrel. A suitable seal 22 is provided within the boreof the head 15 and seals oif around the exterior of the tubing 12 whichextends downwardly through the mandrel and through the entire packerassembly.

The expander cone 18 is formed with a plurality of longitudinallyextending recesses or grooves 23 and the face or inner surface of eachrecess is inclined to form a slip expanding surface 23a. Gripping slips24 are slidably disposed within the recesses and each slip has its innersurface inclined to co-act with the surfaw 23a of its groove and thuslongitudinal movement of the slip members 24 with respect to theexpander cone results in a radially outward movement of said slipmembers, whereby the same engage the wall of the well casing 11 in theusual manner.

Each slip member 24 has at its lower end a T-shaped retaining lug 25 andsaid lug is disposed within a complementary recess or slot 26 in theupper end of a cylinder member 27. The cylinder 27 surround the mandrel14 and has its upper end formed with a cylinder head 27a, which head isslidable longitudinally with respect to the mandrel 14. Suitable sealingrings 23 seal off between the cylinder head and the external surface ofthe mandrel 14. An annular piston member 29 has its upper end secured tothe lower end of the mandrel 14- and its lower end surrounds the tubing12, said piston fitting within the bore of the cylinder 27. Sealingrings 30 on the piston member 29 seal between said member and the wallof the cylinder 27 while a suitable seal 31 seals off between theexterior surface of the tubing 12 and the bore of the piston member 29.

By observing FIGURE 2 it will be seen that the packing element 17,expander 18 and slips 24 are disposed above the cylinder head 27a of thecylinder 27. The piston member 29 is secured to the lower end of themandrel 14 which extends through the bore of the packing element 17 andthrough the bore formed in the expander 18. When pressure is introducedinto the area indicated at E in FIGURE 2, this pressure acts upwardly onthe cylinder head 27 to raise the same with respect to the piston member29. This moves the slips 24 upwardly along the inclined surfaces of theexpander 18 and sets said slips into gripping engagement with the pipe.After the slips have engaged the pipe, further upward movement of thecylinder head 27a and the cylinder 27 is halted and any pressure withinthe space E is transmitted against the piston member 29 which issecured, as has been explaincd, to the lower end of the mandrel 14. Thisresults in a downward movement of the piston member 29 and the mandrel14 which in turn applies a downward motion to the head 15 on the upperend of the packing element or sleeve 17. Thus, an endwise force isapplied to the packing element 17 and deforms said packing element intosealing engagement with the wall of the well casting 11. It will thus beseen that introduction of pressure into the area E between the cylinder27 and the piston 29 results in a setting of the slips followed by adeformation of the packing element into full sealing position.

F or introducing pressure fluid into the area E between the cylinder andthe piston, the piston member 29 is formed with an angular port orpassage 32 having an annular seat 33 provided therein. A spring pressedball check valve 34 is confined in the upper end of the passage 32 andfunctions to admit pressure fluid into the area B but to prevent theescape of pressure fluid therefrom. The lower end of the angular passage32 communicates with the bore 12a of the tubing 12 through an inlet port35, which port is normally disposed just above the seal 31 which sealsoff between the tubing 12 and the piston member 29. It will be obviousthat when pressure is introduced through the port 35, such pressure willpass upwardly through the angular port 32, will unseat the check valve34 and will enter the space E. After sutficient pressure has been builtup to move the cylinder 27 with respect to the piston 29 so as to setthe slips and deform the packing element, the pressure in the space Ebetween the piston and cylinder is trapped and cannot escape since theback check valve 34 will be moved to its seat. It might be noted that asuitable seal 31a seals off between the piston member 29 and theexterior of the tubing 12 at a point above the lower end of the angularport 32.

The cylinder 27 is normally connected with the lower portion of thepiston member by a frangible shear pin 36a. As shown in FIGURE 2 theshear pin 36a has an enlarged portion 36 which is threaded through thelower end of the cylinder. Just inside the threads this enlarged portionis provided with a fiat section 37 which is slidable within alongitudinal groove 38 formed in the outer surface of the piston member29. The shear pin is in connected position when the packer assembly A islowered into the well bore and said shear pin assures that the cylinderwill not move with respect to the piston. When pressure is introducedinto the area B between the cylinder and piston, the force of thispressure will shear the pin 36a and permit the cylinder to move upwardlyin the manner explained to effect a setting of the slips 24. After thepin is sheared the piston and cylinder may undergo movement with respectto each other in an axial or longitudinal direction but the engagementof the flat section 37 of the enlarged portion 36 of the fractured shearpin remains within the groove 38 so that the cylinder is nonrotativelycoupled to the piston member 29.

For coupling or connecting the packer assembly to the well tubing 12with the parts in the position shown in FIGURE 2, the special coupling Dis provided. This coupling is shown in detail in FIGURE 7 and includesan upper section 49 and a lower section 41. The upper section has anupwardly extending pin 22 which threads into the lower portion of thebore of the piston member 29 below the seal 31. Said upper section isformed with longitudinal projections or fingers 4-3 which areinterengaged with longitudinal projections or fingers 4 formed on thelower section 4 1. The lower section 4-1 is also formed with internalthreads .5 which are left-hand threads and such threads engagecomplementary lefthand threads :6 which are provided on the exterior ofthe tubing section 12. Normally, a plurality of shear pins 46a connectthe two sections 40 and 41 of the coupling in a position with theprojections or fingers of the respective sections in an extendedposition. It will be evident that when the shear pins 46a are fractured,the upper section may telescope the lower section within the limits ofthe length of the projections 43 and 44.

The special coupling D, having its upper section 40 connected with thepiston member 29 of the packer assembly and the lower section '41 havingits left-hand threads 45 connected with the tubing 12, functions toconnect the tubing to the packer assembly. With the shear pins 46 inplace the parts are in the position shown in FIGURE 2 and the welltubing 12 may be utilized to lower the assembly into position within thewell bore.

The lower section 41 of the coupling D is provided with additionalinternal threads 47 which are left-hand threads and these are locatedimmediately below the lefthand threads 45. The threads 47 of the lowersection 41 of coupling D are adapted to be reconnected withcomplementary threads 48 which are formed on a collar 49 secured to thelower end of the tubing string 12. The coupling of threads 47 to thethreads 48 occurs during removal of the assembly from the well bore andwill be explained in detail in connection with the operation of theapparatus.

In running the packer assemblywithin the well casing, the parts are inthe position shown in FIGURES 2 and 2a. At this time the packer assemblyA is connected to the tubing string 12 through the special coupling D,said coupling making a direct connection between the tubing 12 and thepiston member 29' of the packer assembly. The cylinder 27 is supportedupon the piston member 29 and is connected thereto by the shear pin 36a.In turn, the slips 24 are supported upon the cylinder, the expander 18is supported upon the support ring 21 and the packing element rests uponthe expander, being confined by the enlarged head 15 secured to theupper end of the mandrel. At this time the gripping slips are retractedand the packing element is in its normal undistorted or nonsealingposition.

Upon reaching the position at which the packer is to be set, downwardmovement of the tubing 12 is halted. At this time fluid may becirculated downwardly through the tubing, outwardly through its lowerend and the return will be upwardly around the exterior of the packerassembly which is not yet in its set position. Thus, any desiredcirculation of fluid, washing of the well bore or formation or any otheroperation may be carried out prior to the time that the packer isactually moved into set position.

After circulation of desired type has been completed and it is desiredto set the packer, a plug G (FIGURE 2a) is dropped downwardly throughthe tubing 12 and comes to rest upon a seat 50 provided within thecollar 49 at the lower end of the tubing string. This plug may be of anydesired construction and is illustrated as having a retrievable neck 51at its upper end. The plug G functions to close downward flow of fluidthrough the bore of the tubing.

With the plug G in position, the pressure within the bore of the tubing12 is built up and the pressure fluid is directed through the port 35 inthe tubing and passes upwardly into the angular port 32, unseating thecheck valve 34 and flowing into the area E between the cylinder head 27aand the piston member 29. As this pressure builds up, the cylinder 27 ismoved upwardly, shearing the pin 36a, and this upward movement resultsin the gripping slips 24 being moved into set position through theirco-action with the expander cone 18. At this time the expander cone issuspended upon the support ring 21 and the slips may move upwardlythereto. Also at this time the mandrel 14 and the piston member 29 arestationary because they are coupled directly through the coupling D tothe tubing string which is hanging stationary in the well bore. Afterthe slips 24 move into set position a further upward movement of thecylinder is resisted and the force of the pressure fluid then actsdownwardly against the piston member 29. This downward force issufiicient to shear the pins 46a in the special coupling member D and assoon as the pins shear, the piston member 29 and the mandrel 14 may bemoved downwardly relative to the tubing 12. The length of theprojections or fingers 43 and 44 of the coupling is such that sufficientdownward movement of the piston member 29, mandrel 14 and enlarged head15 may occur to assure that the packing element 17 is distorted by theendwise force applied through the head 15 which is attached to saidmandrel; this downward force is applied without pulling downwardly onthe tubing 12 and, therefore, the packer is set without placing an unduestretch in the tubing string.

As soon as the packing element is deformed outwardly into tight sealingengagement with the wall of the casing 11, further downward motion ofthe piston member and mandrel is halted. The pressure, which has beenintroduced into the area or space E between the cylinder head 27a andthe piston member 29, is trapped in this area because the check valve 34closes. Thereafter, pressure within the bore of the tubing 12 may berelieved and the packer assembly will remain in its set position. It isnoted that since the head 15, which is in contact with the upper end ofthe packing element, moves in a downward direction to set the packingelement, the hydrostatic head of fluid in the annulus above head 15 isacting upon said head to urge the same downwardly and thereby assist inmaintaining the packer in set position.

'By reason of the annulus pressure acting upon the head 15 to assist inthe setting and subsequent maintenance of the packer in set position, itis evident that by controlling the annulus pressure, the amount ofpressure which must be applied to the piston and cylinder may also becontrolled.

After the packer is set, a wire line may be utilized to retrieve theplug G to again open the bore of the tubing 12 and permit well fluids tobe produced therethrough. The position of the parts in fully setposition is illustrated in FIGURE 4.

At any time that removal of the packer assembly A is .necessary ordesired, the tubing string 12 is rotated to the right and this resultsin uncoupling the left-hand threads 46 on the tubing from the left-handthreads 45 provided in the lower section 41 of the coupling D. Theuncoupling of these threads may be accomplished because the section 41is held stationary through interengagement of its projections 44 withthe projections 43 of the upper section =40; the latter section being,of course, secured to the piston member 29 which is nonrotatable withinthe casing. As soon as the threads 45 and 46 are uncoupled, the tubing12 may be lifted upwardly with respect to the packer assembly and suchupward movement is continued until the opening or port 35 in the tubingis raised above the packing 31a and is moved into alignment with arelief port or opening 51 which is formed in the mandrel 14 adjacent theupper end of the piston 29. When the ports 35 and 51 are inregistration, the pressure Within the area or space E, which waspreviously trapped, may be relieved into the bore of the tubing and thisreleases the forces which have held the packing element and the slips inset position.

At the same time that the ports 35 and 51 move into registration, anannular recessed portion 52 provided in the external surface of thetubing 12 below the shoulder 13, is moved upwardly to span the upperseal 22 and effect an equalization of pressure around the packingelement. Release of the trapped pressure from the area or space E andequalization of pressures across the various elements of the packerassembly relieves the pressure which was acting upon the piston andcylinder. Therestring until the collar 49 engages beneath the lowersection 41 of the coupling D, which transmits an upward lift throughpiston 29, mandrel 14 and support ring 21 to the expander to release theslips, whereby the entire assembly may be removed from the bore.

However, if a straight upward pull on the assembly does not release theassembly, it may be necessary to jar upwardly upon the cone 18 to removesaid cone from between the slips and thereby effect a release of theassembly; if such operation is necessary, the tubing is raised until thethreads 48 of collar 49 engage the threads 47 in the lower section 4.1of coupling D. Upon subsequent right-hand rotation, the lower section 41of coupling D is directly connected to the collar 49 to reconnect thecoupling D to the tubing 12. It is now possible by misaligning theprojections 44 and 43 to take an upward pull or strain on the tubing 12and then by rotating the lower section 41 to cause the projections 44 ofsection 41 to suddenly become aligned with the spaces betweenprojections 43 of the upper section 40 of the coupling, therebyimparting a sudden upward jar to the piston member 29. The piston member29, being directly connected to the mandrel 14, transmits the upward jarto said mandrel and then, through the support ring 21, the jar isimposed through shoulder 29 directly upon the cone 18. By repeating thejarring action, which is permitted by the projections 43 and 44 of thesections of the coupling D, the expander cone may be driven upwardlyfrom between the gripping slips to assure a positive release of theanchoring means and of the packing element 17, whereby removal of theassembly is assured.

In FIGURES 2 and 4 the back check 34 has been shown as a simple ballcheck device. However, where the packer is maintained in set positionover a long period of time, it is necessary to hold the pressure trappedduring such period with no leakage. Therefore, it may be desirable toprovide a double check valve to assure that there will be no leakageafter the packer has been set. In FIGURE 6 a modified form of checkvalve arrangement is illustrated. As shown in this figure, an angularpassage 32a is located in substantially the same relationship in thepiston member 29 as is the passage 32. Passage 32a has an annular seat60 which is engaged by a spring pressed ball 61. Above the seat 60, thepassage is enlarged as indicated at 62 and a second valve seat 63 isprovided. The seat 63 may be located within a member insertable withinthe enlargedportion 62 and held in place by a plug 64. Confined betweenthe plug 64 and the seat 63 is a second back check, spring pressed valve65. In the event that valve 65 should fail to properly seat or for somereason should leak, the valve 61 provides a second back check which willassure that the pressure will be retained in the area or space E andthereby assure that the packer will remain in its set position even overlong periods of time.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple and effective type ofhydraulically actuated packer is provided. The special coupling D notonly provides for downward motion of the piston member and mandrelduring setting of the packing element without imparting that samemovement to the tubing string, but also said coupling incorporates thejar device which will be most effective during the removal of theassembly. It is, of course, evident that during the setting of thepacker, the forces applied should not be applied to the tubing stringbecause this would result in stretching the string and placing it underan undue strain. When the pins 46a of the special coupling are sheared,downward movement of the piston 29 and the mandrel 14 may occur withoutin any way imparting that same movement to the tubing string 12.Although the jar feature is provided in the coupling D by reason of theinterengaged projections 43 and 44, it may not be necessary to employthis feature at all times. As has been noted, after the pressure betweenthe piston and cylinder has been released and pressures across thepacking element equalized, a straight upward movement on the tubingstring may result in removal of the entire assembly. However, if suchupward movement of the tubing does not release the packer, then the jarfeature may be employed to drive the expander cone upwardly from betweenthe gripping slips 24, so that positive release is assured. Of course,when the jar feature is to be employed, it is necessary that the threads47 at the lower end of the section 41 of coupling D be engaged with thethreads 48 of the enlarged collar 49 because it is this connection whichagain reconnects the lower section 41 of coupling D with the tubingstring.

It is pointed out that the mandrel 14 extends entirely through thepacking element 17 and entirely through the expander cone; with thisarrangement the inner surface or bore of the packing element 17 is notengaged with the exterior of the tubing string 12. For this reason, thetubing string may be readily manipulated, first rotated to disconnectthe left-hand threads 45 and 46, and then moved longitudinally throughthe packer assembly without any appreciable frictional resistance. It isevident that if the packing element 17 engaged the exterior surface ofthe tubing string when in its set position, its bore engaging the tubingwould create considerable frictional resistance to both rotative andlongitudinal movement of said tubing. Further, the provision of themandrel 14 directly connects the piston 29 with the enlarged head 15 andwhen pressure is applied between the piston and its cylinder, theapplied pressure force is contained within the packer assembly and isnot transmitted to the coupling threads 42 or to the shoulder 13 on thetubing string. Therefore, the tubing string is not subjected to unduestress because the load is carried by the mandrel and this alsofacilitates release of the device where pressure forces are relieved.

Although ball check valves have been found satisfactory for effectivelysealing against the escape of pressure from the area E between thecylinder and piston, any suitable type of back check valve may beemployed.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention isillustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size,shape and materials, as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction, may be made within the scope of the appended claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A well packer assembly including, a mandrel, an enlargement connectedto the upper end of the mandrel, a packing element surrounding themandrel and having its upper end adjacent the enlargement whereby thepacking element is confined against upward movement with respect to themandrel, anchoring means also surrounding the mandrel below the packingelement, hydraulicallyactuated means comprising two elements movablerelative to one another, the first of said two elements havingconnection with the anchoring means so that said anchoring means is setupon movement of said first element, the second of said elements havingconnection with the mandrel so that said mandrel is moved when saidsecond element is moved relative to said first element to move theenlargement at the upper end of the mandrel and thereby apply an endwiseforce to the packing element to deform the same into sealing position, atubular conductor extending entirely through the packer assembly,coupling means connecting said conductor to said second element, andmeans establishing communication between the bore of the conductor andsaid hydraulically-actuated means to operate the latter and thereby setthe anchoring means and packing element, the enlargement on said mandrelbeing exposed to the pressure in the area above the set packer whichpressure acts downwardly upon the enlargement to urge and maintain thepacking element in its set position.

2. A Well packer assembly including,

a tubular conductor,

a mandrel surrounding said conductor and mounted for limited slidingmovement thereon,

an elastic packing element surrounding the mandrel, means secured to themandrel confining the packing element against upward displacement on themandrel,

a gripping slip expander surrounding the mandrel and engaging the lowerend of said packing element,

means for limiting the downward movement of the member and the movablecylinder member to impart movement to the latter and move the grippingslips relative to the expander to set the same, setting of said slipspreventing a subsequent downward movement of the expander and the lowerend of the elastic packing element, as well as arresting a furtherupward movement of the cylinder member and gripping slips, whereby thecontinued application of pressure between the cylinder member and thepiston member applies a downward force to the piston member to move saidpiston member and the mandrel secured thereto downwardly relative to thepacking element to apply endwise force to said packing element throughthe confining means secured to said mandrel and distort said elementinto sealing position.

3. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 2, wherein the meansconnecting the piston member to the conductor includes,

a coupling unit comprising a pair of telescoping sections, one of whichis secured to the piston member and the other of which is secured to theconductor,

means releasably connecting the sections to each other and adapted to bereleased when a force is applied to the piston member in a downwarddirection following setting of the gripping slips, said sections havinga predetermined movement relative to each other which is sufficient toallow downward movement of the piston member and mandrel to deform saidpacking element, such downward movement of the piston member and mandreloccurring with respect to the conductor and also relative to theexpander and gripping slips.

4. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 2, together with,

means located between the tubular conductor and the area between thepiston member and the cylinder member for trapping the applied pressurewithin said area,

the tubular conductor having a pressure release port which is normallysealed from communication with said area between said piston member andcylinder member,

said means which connects the piston member to the conductor beingreleasable so that upon release, the conductor may be moved relative tothe piston and cylinder member to communicate the release port with thearea between said piston and cylinder mem bers and thereby relieve thepressure maintaining the packer assembly in set position, and

coacting means on the conductor and connecting means for releasing saidconnecting means by manipulation of the conductor.

5. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 3, together withcoacting reconnecting means on said conductor and on one of the sectionsof the coupling unit for subsequently reconnecting said conductor tosaid coupling unit.

6. A well packer as set forth in claim 3, wherein the telescopingsections of the coupling unit include interengaging projections, whichmay be reciprocated relative to each other after the means connectingthe sections has been released to thereby apply an upward jarring actionto the piston member when said conductor is manipulated.

7. A well packer assembly including,

a tubular mandrel,

a packing element surrounding said mandrel,

anchoring means also surrounding the mandrel below the packing element,

hydraulically-actuated means having two relatively movable parts withone part engageable with the anchoring means,

a tubular conductor extending entirely through said mandrel,

a coupling unit connecting said conductor to the second movable part ofthe hydraulically-actuated means, whereby said conductor may be utilizedto lower the asesmbly into a well bore,

means including said conductor for directing pressure fluid to thehydraulic means to move its parts relative to each other to set theanchoring means and packing element,

a releasable connection in the coupling unit for disconnecting theconductor from the movable part of said hydraulically-actuated means,whereby said conductor may be moved within limits relative tohydraulically-actuated means, anchoring means, packing element andmandrel,

means actuated by a predetermined movement of the conductor forreleasing the anchoring means and packing element from set position,

and an enlargement on the lower end of the conductor below thehydraulically-actuated means for limiting the downward movement of saidhydraulically-actuated means, the anchoring means, packing element andmandrel on said conductor, whereby said conductor may be utilized toretrieve the complete assembly from the well bore.

8. In combination with a well packer assembly comprising, a mandrel, apacking element surrounding the mandrel and confined against upwardmovement thereon, anchoring means also surrounding the mandrel below thepacking element, hydraulically-actuated means having engagement with theanchoring means and having connection with the mandrel and uponoperation coacting with the anchoring means and the mandrel to firstmove the anchoring means into set position and thereafter to move themandrel downwardly relative to the anchoring means to apply endwiseforce to the packing element to deform the same into sealing position,

a conductor and coupling unit including a tubular conductor extendingentirely through the mandrel of the packer assembly,

and a coupling means between the conductor and thehydraulically-actuated means,

said coupling means comprising two telescoping sections, one of which issecured to the conductor and the other of which is secured to thehydraulicallyactuated means,

releasable means securing said telescoping sections to each other,

release of said releasable means permitting relative movement of aportion of the hydraulically-actuated means with respect to theconductor, whereby said packer assembly may be set while the conductorremains stationary.

9. A well packer assembly as set forth in claim 8,

wherein the telescoping sections of the coupling means includeinterengaging projections which may be reciprocated with respect to eachother after the releasable means connecting the sections has beenreleased, whereby manipulation of the conductor will reciprocate saidsections to apply an upward jar to the piston member. 10. A well packerassembly as set forth in claim 8, wherein the telescoping sections ofthe coupling means interengaging projections which may be reciprocatedwith respect to each other after the releasable means connecting thesections has been released, whereby manipulation of the conductor willreciprocate said sections to apply an upward jar to the piston member,and coacting means on said conductor and on one of the sections of thecoupling means for reconnecting said conductor to said coupling means toprevent relative movement of the conductor relative to the couplingmeans and relative to said hydraulicallyactuated means secured to thecoupling means. I 11. The combination with a well packer assembly whichincludes a packing element, anchoring means and hydraulically-actuatedmeans for setting the anchoring means and deforming the packing elementinto sealing position,-

of a conductor and coupling unit comprising, a tubular conductor whichextends entirely through the packer assembly, a coupling means attachedto the lower end of the well packer assembly, releasable means on saidcoupling means which releasably connects said coupling means with theconductor, whereby the conductor may be utilized to initially lower saidpacker assembly within the well bore, means including the conductor forestablishing communication between the bore of the conductor and thehydraulically-actuated means for the packer assembly whereby pressurefluid may be directed from said conductor to the hydraulically-actuatedmeans to set the anchoring means and deform the packing element intosealing position, release of the releasable means of the coupling meansdisconnecting the conductor from the packer assembly after the same isset to permit a limited longitudinal movement of the conductor relativeto the packer, means in the conductor coacting with thehydraulicallyactuated means upon a longitudinal movement of theconductor for releasing the pressure fluid which initially sets thegripping slips and packing element of the assembly,

and additional coacting means on said coupling means and on saidconductor for reconnecting the conductor to the packer assembly afterthe packer assembly has been released whereby the conductor may beemployed to retrieve the assembly from the well bore.

12. The combination set forth in claim 11, wherein the coupling meanscomprises,

a pair of telescoping sections, one of which is secured to the conductorand one of which is secured to a portion of the hydraulically-actuatedmeans,

said releasable means releasably connecting said sections,

said telescoping sections having interengaging projections which arereciprocable within limits relative to each other when said releasablemeans is released, whereby the conductor may undergo limitedlongitudinal movement with respect to the well packer assembly to applyan upward jarring action to said assembly to effect its release from aset position.

13. The combination set forth in claim 11, wherein the coupling meanscomprises,

a pair of telescoping sections, one of which is secured to the conductorand one of which is secured to a portion of the hydraulically-actuatedmeans,

said releasable means releasably connecting said sections,

said telescoping sections having interengaging projections which arereciprocable within limits relative to each other when said releasablemeans is released, whereby the conductor may undergo limitedlongitudinal movement with respect to the Well packer assembly to applyan upward jarring action to said assembly to effect its release from aset position, and

additional coacting means on the conductor and on one of the sections ofthe coupling means to reconnect said conductor to the well packerassembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,373,005 Baker Apr. 3, 1945 2,630,865 Baker Mar. 10, 1953 2,695,064Ragan et a1. Nov. 23, 1954 2,764,243 Page Sept. 25, 1956 2,854,081Kriegel Sept. 30, 1958

1. A WELL PACKER ASSEMBLY INCLUDING, A MANDREL, AN ENLARGEMENT CONNECTEDTO THE UPPER END OF THE MANDREL, A PACKING ELEMENT SURROUNDING THEMANDREL AND HAVING ITS UPPER END ADJACENT THE ENLARGEMENT WHEREBY THEPACKING ELEMENT IS CONFINED AGAINST UPWARD MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THEMANDREL, ANCHORING MEANS ALSO SURROUNDING THE MANDREL BELOW THE PACKINGELEMENT, HYDRAULICALLYACTUATED MEANS COMPRISING TWO ELEMENTS MOVABLERELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER, THE FIRST OF SAID TWO ELEMENTS HAVINGCONNECTION WITH THE ANCHORING MEANS SO THAT SAID ANCHORING MEANS IS SETUPON MOVEMENT OF SAID FIRST ELEMENT, THE SECOND OF SAID ELEMENTS HAVINGCONNECTION WITH THE MANDREL SO THAT SAID MANDREL IS MOVED WHEN SAIDSECOND ELEMENT IS MOVED RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST ELEMENT TO MOVE THEENLARGEMENT AT THE UPPER END OF THE MANDREL AND THEREBY APPLY AN ENDWISEFORCE TO THE PACKING ELEMENT TO DEFORM THE SAME INTO SEALING POSITION, ATUBULAR CONDUCTOR EXTENDING ENTIRELY THROUGH THE PACKER ASSEMBLY,COUPLING MEANS CONNECTING SAID CONDUCTOR TO SAID SECOND ELEMENT, ANDMEANS ESTABLISHING COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE BORE OF THE CONDUCTOR ANDSAID HYDRAULICALLY-ACTUATED MEANS TO OPERATE THE LATTER AND THEREBY SETTHE ANCHORING MEANS AND PACKING ELEMENT, THE ENLARGEMENT ON SAID MANDRELBEING EXPOSED TO THE PRESSURE IN THE AREA ABOVE THE SET PACKER WHICHPRESSURE ACTS DOWNWARDLY UPON THE ENLARGEMENT TO URGE AND MAINTAIN THEPACKING ELEMENT IN ITS SET POSITION.